Hundreds miss World Cup semi-final thanks to deluge of private jets ferrying in royalty, celebrities and heads of state

Hundreds of football fans missed the World Cup semi-final because of a deluge of private jets ferrying celebrities, royalty and heads of state to yesterday's match.

Chaos descended on the new airport in the South African city of Durban after a dozen VIP aircraft were given priority landing over local flights, leaving little room on the ground for other jets.

Paris Hilton, the King and Queen of Spain, and American statesman Henry Kissinger were among the crowd who watched Spain beat Germany for a place in Sunday’s final.

VIP: Paris Hilton was at the World Cup semi-final after being given priority to land her private jet

However, up to 2,000 seats remained empty as planeloads of anguished fans were delayed on the ground and in the air.

And
fans fear similar chaos at the weekend for the World Cup final at the
£600million King Shaka airport, which only opened in May to cope with
unprecedented demand.

Airport staff were apparently powerless to
force crews of the private jets, having delivered their exclusive
clients, to take off again and make way for more landings.

Five flights were forced to circle above the coastal city for hours, and some of them were never allowed to land at all.

Two
packed flights arrived so late that the game was nearly over. Three
more planes were banned from landing completely and ordered to return
to either Cape Town or Johannesburg, sparking a near riot on board.

More chaos expected: The £600million King Shaka airport, which opened in May to cope with unprecedented demand

There were tears of frustration and angry scenes as irate supporters, some of whom had travelled from Spain and Germany especially for the game, confronted air crew as it dawned on them that their trip to South Africa had been in vain.

Passenger Mandy Ford, whose flight to Durban was delayed by seven hours, described the scene: 'Some people were completely defeated and others were so angry.

'We had guys from Spain screaming that South Africa does not know how to organise anything. And there weren't even TVs nearby where we could watch the game.

'So we couldn't watch the game, we couldn't hear it on the radio, we couldn't do anything. We were just stuck.'

Tonight there was confusion over whether compensation would be offered, with Fifa saying it was being considered shortly after South Africa’s organisers said no refunds would be given.

The incident, the first major hitch of the month-long tournament, has raised fears over the organisation of Sunday’s final in Johannesburg.

At least 14 heads of state will be among the crowd at the 95,000 seater Soccer City in Soweto – the largest venue in the country.

However, airport officials have vowed to take firm action against uncooperative private flights.

And Airports Company South Africa boss Monhla Hlahla blamed the VIP jets for the appalling scene when 'some private planes refused to move after landing, therefore blocking landing space for other planes'.

'Priority had to be given to VIPs who were caught up in the situation,' she said, adding that FIFA planes were also allowed to land before commercial flights.

ACSA operations manager added: 'We are going to be more forceful on Sunday. If aircraft refuse to move we will tow them away.'

Paris Hilton, who has had an eventful 'soccer and safari' trip to South Africa is flying around the country on her own private plane, took her seat in the stands with time to spare, and left after the game without delay.